Corner Sleeve Hammock Cushioning Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-column corner sleeves are prone to breakage at bent portions, can be punctured by sharp objects, and fail to provide adequate cushioning against impact forces, leading to potential damage during transportation.
Innovation Solution
A corner sleeve with a hammock-like cushioning structure featuring a deformable opening and enclosing film that supports the object's corner, creating a cushioning distance between the corner and the bottom air-column side, and includes a combination of fixedly connected and free air columns for enhanced elasticity and cushioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If air columns are made with bent configuration to correspond to edges of end corner, then cushioning coverage is improved, but the bent portions become prone to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The air column is divided into multiple independent air columns instead of a single continuous bent structure. Each air column can independently deform and absorb impact without causing the entire structure to fail, thus maintaining cushioning coverage while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The air columns are designed to be dynamically deformable rather than rigid bent structures. They can flex and adapt to impact forces without maintaining a fixed bent configuration that is prone to breakage, allowing the cushioning structure to remain intact while providing continuous protection.
2Ease of manufacture
If air-column bags are made of polyethylene material, then manufacturing ease is improved, but the material is susceptible to puncture by sharp corners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining multiple layers or materials with different properties. The outer layer provides puncture resistance against sharp corners, while the inner layers maintain the air cushioning function, thus improving reliability without sacrificing ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The air columns are pre-inflated to a specific pressure before packing, creating a pre-tensioned cushioning structure that is more resistant to puncture. This beforehand preparation enhances the material's effective strength without requiring more complex materials or manufacturing processes.
3Productivity
If object weight reduces gap between bottom and inner wall, then packing efficiency is improved, but cushioning space is insufficient when bottom hits ground
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning protection is extended from the vertical dimension (bottom-to-top gap) to the lateral dimensions by positioning air columns at the corners and sides. This allows the object to be securely held in place without requiring excessive vertical clearance, maintaining packing efficiency while ensuring impact protection through multi-dimensional cushioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The air columns are pre-positioned and pre-inflated at the corners and sides before the object is placed, creating a preliminary cushioning framework that maintains proper spacing and prevents the object from directly contacting the container walls during impact, thus protecting against ground collision forces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides double cushioning, prevents air column breakage, maintains cushioning effect even if punctured, and protects against impact forces by preventing direct contact between the object's corner and the bottom air-column side, thus reducing damage during transportation.
Implementation Method 1
the air columns provide double cushioning
Implementation Method 2
the end corner of the object is wrapped in the enclosing film, supported or held in the receiving space
Data Source
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AI summary
A corner sleeve with a hammock-like cushioning structure includes first and second air-column sides and a bottom air-column side. The inner surfaces of the first and second air-column sides are bonded together at a lateral end, except in the vicinity of the bottom air-column side, such that a deformable opening is formed at an end corner of the corner sleeve by the unbonded parts of the inner surfaces of the first and second air-column sides at the lateral end. The air columns of the three air-column sides that form the deformable opening define a cushioning side at the end corner of the corner sleeve. A hammock-like enclosing film extends between the first and second air-column sides without contact with the bottom air-column side. An end corner of an object to be packed can be wrapped between the first, second, and bottom air-column sides and the cushioning side for enhanced protection.